The word around the internet is that CSM Basil L. Plumley passed on this morning. I can’t find anything substantial, but I noticed last week from being “friends” with General Hal Moore that Plumley had been admitted to a care facility to have his cancer treated and everyone seemed to think he’d heard the last bugle call. He was born in Shady Spring, WV on January 1, 1920 and served the country in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. According to legend, he participated in four of the 82d’s combat jumps in Europe, as well as the single combat jump with the 187th in Korea.
I sat on this all day because I couldn’t verify it, and I knew that if published it too soon, CSM Plumley would hunt me down, but our buddy Susan Katz Keating confirmed it with Joe Galloway who says he confirmed it with the family. So I haven’t been ignoring that flurry of emails you all sent, but I just didn’t want my junk sliced off by a 92-year-old sergeant major of his reputation. Or of any other reputation, for that matter. There’d better be a thousand comments from you guys judging from all of the emails I got from those of you who think I can’t read.
ADDED: I guess the Ledger-Enquirer was waiting for me to confirm. Thanks to John for sitting on them all day for me.
I may or may not be directly related to CSM Plumley, but our last names are the same and their are not many Plumley’s in the world. RIP CSM.
From Fort Benning/Maneuver Center of Excellence https://www.facebook.com/fortbenningfans
RIP
Better link: http://www.wtvm.com/story/19785743/2012/10/10/retired-csm-basil-plumley-dies-fort-benning-mourns-loss
See you on the high ground, Sergeant Major…
If you are not respectfull he can still cut your junk off. He is just that bad ass.
RIP CSM
Yeah, what Twist said.
Old soldiers never die. They just take the next hill.
Unlike a notorious poser who doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same post, CSM Pulley is one of the 324 soldiers that earned three seperate CIB’s, and wore the CIB with two stars.
Yeah, what Old Trooper said.
I wonder if St Peter will call him ‘grandpa’ an his way thru the Pearly Gates. !;-})
The good CSM Plumley did in life won’t be interred with his bones. Rather, it lives on – in each soldier who draws inspiration from his example.
RIP, CSM Plumley. You’ve certainly earned it.
I, for one, wanted it to be wrong, but when SKK put it up at her place I had to consider it valid.
RIP CSM Plumley
Say howdy to my Dad and FIL.
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers’ Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers’ Green.
Yeah, what 2-17 AirCav said…
RIP CSM
A prayer request went out a week or so ago when he was checked into Hospice. Apparently he lost his bride earlier this year and was most anxious to join her sooner rather than later. Sometimes a good soldier gets exactly what he wants.
RIP, good servant. And what Zero said, but adding my Pops to the list. Y’all have a great time up there.
In review … Any questions?
Combat Infantryman Badge (three awards)
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with gold star (indicating 5 combat jumps)
Vietnam Army Basic Parachutist Badge
Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Valor Device
Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with one silver and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal (6 or 11 awards)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and 1 silver and 3 bronze campaign stars (to signify 8 campaigns and 4 combat jumps)
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Korean Service Medal with Arrowhead device and three campaign stars
Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and three bronze campaign stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
French Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze star)
Belgian Croix de Guerre (for World War II service) (attachments unknown, but at least 1 bronze lion)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Order of Saint Maurice
Garry Owen Distinctive unit insignia
10 Service Stripes, indicating 30 – 32 years of service.
RIP CSM Plumley
I like the headline in the Ledger-Enquirer:
character in movie “We Were Soldiers”
NOT
War hero depicted in “We Were Soldiers”
Sigh.
In the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, the reporter got his retirement date wrong. At midnight on the day he retired, I was pulling guard duty with a stick at the reception station in Fort Polk, LA. That was December 31, 1974. The reporter wrote 1964.
@16 And that is exactly how the resume of a bad ass reads.
RIP CSM Plumley, you inspired this generation and all generations of NCOs to come.
RIP CSM Plumley.
Few are legends in their own time. He was one of the few. It was an honor to have inhabited the same planet with him and the honor is all ours.
“God may look like SGM Plumley, but he isn’t nearly as tough on sins small or large.”
I have seen two different photos of him today.
In both, his field dressing pouch was right side up.
Extra respect for a man who understands gravity.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived”
Absent comrades!
“Custer was a pussy”.
Best NCO quote EVER!
Rest in Peace Sir. God Speed.
RIP CSM.
“and when he gets to heaven,
to saint peter he will tell:
“another soldier reporting, sir
I’ve served my time in hell.”
Rest in Peace, Sergeant Major.
Joe Galloway has said on a few occasions that Sam Elliot underplayed CSM Plumley. RIP to a warrior that paved the way for future generations of soldiers and NCOs
God speed, CSM Plumley. An inspiration and the true “enviable example” for all to follow.
Five combat jumps. FIVE. I truly wonder how many other men were able to say that.
RIP CSM Plumley.
…. I had the privilege of serving with and getting to know
SGM Plumlee at Fort Benning, GA in 1967. He was a personification of what a Senior NCO should be. And I can
assure anyone who never had the opportunity to meet him that
he was a legend in his own time and long before the movie was made.
When we all go to our last roll call, he will be there
commanding the Honor Guard at Fiddlers Green.
Garryowen!
Godspeed CSM Plumley.
RIP SGM!
What everyone has said, Hooo-Aahhh CSM, rest in peace.
A much better article on CSM Plumley is up over at the Ledger this morning.
RIP, CSM Plumley. Garryowen.
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/10/10/2235367/we-were-soldiers-command-sergeant.html#
I never had the honor of meeting SGM Plumley. But, to know he walked the same ground as I in three countries,is an honor for anyone.
RIP SGM, hopefully we will meet on high.
God Speed CSM Plumley!
I found this in a box of family stuff, part of something my great-grandfather’s uncle Chaplain Barton. F. Rogers, 15th Illinois Regiment (Reorganized), wrote for a regimental reunion in 1897:
We meet again as comrades, our hearts are warm and brave,
As when we went to battle and best we had we gave
To save our nation’s honor, to keep our Union one,
Most blessed of all nations beneath the shining sun.
Our ranks are growing thinner, how rapidly time flies.
We’ll hold our last campfire soon and say our last good byes.
But dear as life is to us, much dearer is our flag,
Blest emblem of true freedom and all that makes life glad.
God bless our glorious nation, forever may she stand,
A beacon light to others in making earth most grand,
And when our work is ended, may all find peace and rest,
With heroes gone before us in mansions of the blest.